Steele football head coach Mike Jinks tries to motivate the crowd during the pep rally for the football team at Steele High School on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011. The Knights will be playing in the Class 5A Div. II state championship at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday.

Steele football head coach Mike Jinks tries to motivate the crowd during the pep rally for the football team at Steele High School on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011. The Knights will be playing in the Class 5A Div.

Steele head coach Mike Jinks is doused with water by players after his team defeated Denton Guyer in the Class 5A Division II state final 24-21 Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Steele head coach Mike Jinks is doused with water by players after his team defeated Denton Guyer in the Class 5A Division II state final 24-21 Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.

Photo: EDWARD A. ORNELAS/eaornelas@express-news.net

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Under coach Mike Jinks, Steele has won 42 of its past 43 games entering today's Class 5A Division II semifinal.

Under coach Mike Jinks, Steele has won 42 of its past 43 games entering today's Class 5A Division II semifinal.

Photo: Edward A. Ornelas / San Antonio Express-News

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Stevens coach Lee Bridges (left) pondered selling real estate before finding his niche on the football sidelines. Before leading Steele, coach Mike Jinks (right) had six coaching stops — and that was after he was found waiting tables at a San Angelo restaurant.

Stevens coach Lee Bridges (left) pondered selling real estate before finding his niche on the football sidelines. Before leading Steele, coach Mike Jinks (right) had six coaching stops — and that was after he

Photo: Bridges: John Albright/Special To The Express-News; Jinks: Tom Reel/treel@express-news.net

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Steele's head coach Mike Jinks talks to the team after the game.

Steele's head coach Mike Jinks talks to the team after the game.

Photo: eaornelas@express-news.net

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Jinks weighing move to Judson

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Steele'sMike Jinks said he's heard his name for years as a candidate to be Judson's next head football coach. Now, he's one step closer.

Jinks has not applied for the position yet but said he plans to apply and will discuss the opening with Judson ISD officials this week.

He could replace Judson coach Jim Rackley, who retired on Tuesday after 11 seasons as the Rockets' head coach.

“I'm going through the process,” Jinks said. “I think everybody needs to be a little patient, because there's a lot to work out right now. I need more time to know if applying for the job is the right decision, but I have to look into the job.”

Jinks, a 1990 Judson graduate and former Rockets quarterback, has been at Steele since it opened in August 2005. He guided the Knights to the 2010 Class 5A Division II state championship and a state-final appearance this past season.

Steele's run included a 28-game winning streak from September 2010 to last month's Class 5A Division II state championship game.

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Jinks, 39, has a career record of 65-24, including 62-17 at Steele. He spent one season at Burbank before going to Steele.

With Rackley, who had a 101-37 record at Judson, facing various health issues for the past few seasons, Jinks' name was often brought up as a possible successor.

The Judson opening has been posted on the Judson ISD website since Wednesday. Rackley has recommended Judson defensive coordinator and interim head coach Mark Soto as his replacement.

“I know a lot of speculation is already out there, but it's too early to talk about anything right now,” Jinks said. “I don't really know much about the job right now, and (Judson ISD) still doesn't know much about me.”

Jinks said he told his players at Steele about the situation on Friday.

“He told us that he's looking at the Judson job and said that what we've done at Steele is extremely special,” said Matt Mayle, a junior wide receiver. “But to think about him possibly going somewhere else, it's still going to be upsetting. He's been here since Day 1, and we love him like a father.